Calling all garlic lovers ... learn how to make the BEST Garlic Mashed Potatoes ever! These amazing potatoes are creamy, dreamy, and so easy to prepare. They're the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any day of the week!
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Is there anything more comforting than a bowl of creamy Mashed Potatoes? I can't think of many things ... they're the definition of comfort food, and no holiday meal (at least in my family) would be complete without them.
While a basic bowl of potatoes is delicious, sometimes you want to kick things up a notch. And that's exactly why you're going to LOVE these yummy Garlic Mashed Potatoes. These dreamy potatoes are super creamy, and the addition of garlic puts them totally over the top!
This recipe uses a combination of fresh garlic and roasted garlic, making it perfect for garlic lovers. Don't worry though, it's actually relatively subtle all things considered.
Have I convinced you that you need to make these potatoes ASAP? Then keep scrolling for all the delightful details!
Ingredients
This easy recipe for Mashed Potatoes with Garlic uses simple, delicious ingredients you can find in any grocery store. Here's what you'll need:
- Potatoes - I love using red potatoes when I make mashed potatoes, and I keep the skins on. Feel free to substitute your favorite high starch potatoes though ... buttery Yukon Golds are also especially great, but Russet and baking potatoes will work, too. And of course, you can peel the potatoes if you prefer.
- Garlic - This recipe calls for fresh garlic cloves and roasted garlic (which is super easy to make). Don't worry if it seems like a lot of garlic, because the end result is very well-balanced. If you're a garlic lover like me, feel free to add even more garlic (although I have to mention that I've tested this recipe with extra garlic and actually preferred this version).
- Sour Cream - Sour cream makes these potatoes extra creamy and add a little tang. If you'd prefer, you can use cream cheese instead of sour cream, like I do for my family-favorite Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes. Just follow that recipe, adding the garlic as indicated here.
- Milk - Whole milk works best for this recipe, but you can sub 2% if you prefer.
- Butter - Of course, you'll need butter! I used unsalted.
- Salt + Pepper - I prefer Kosher salt and fresh-cracked pepper is a must.
Variations
Feel free to get creative with this recipe! Try adding other ingredients, like chives or cheese. Cheddar is delicious and Parmesan is good, too.
How to Make the Garlic Mashed Potatoes
This recipe really is easy to make! You'll find a detailed recipe card below, but here's an overview of the steps:
- Roast the garlic. It takes a while to roast the garlic, so start with that first. Remove the papery skin from the head, then trim off the top (exposing the cloves). Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt, wrap with foil (or use a garlic roaster), then roast until tender. It should take about 40 to 50 minutes.
- Cook the potatoes. Next, cut the potatoes in chunks, then add them to a large pot, along with six large cloves of fresh, peeled garlic (don't worry, the flavor mellows as it cooks!). Cover with cold, well salted water, then bring to a boil. Cook until they're fork-tender, then drain.
- Mash the potatoes. Once you've drained the potatoes, add the sour cream, butter, and a little milk. Mash the potatoes, adding just enough milk as you go to get your preferred consistency.
- Add roasted garlic. When your potatoes are just about ready, add the chopped, roasted garlic, and give everything a good stir. Season to taste.
And that's it, your creamy, dreamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes are ready to eat! Don't you just want to dive into that bowl of buttery deliciousness?
Tips for the Best Potatoes
These Garlic Mashed Red Potatoes are practically foolproof, but these easy tips will make them taste even better!
- Avoid using cold ingredients. For the best results, use warm milk (heat it up in your microwave or on the stove), room temperature butter, and take the sour cream out of the fridge when you start the potatoes. This will ensure your potatoes stay hot, as well as making them easier to mash.
- Save time. To save time on the day of a big feast, feel free to roast the garlic ahead of time. Simply throw a head or two in the oven the next time you bake something. Check out my Roasted Garlic recipe for more tips!
- Season to taste. For the most flavorful mashed potatoes, make sure to taste your potatoes and season them generously with salt and pepper. Do not skip this step, or you will have bland potatoes.
- Get the perfect texture. I prefer a little texture, so I use a potato masher to prepare this recipe. For the smoothest mashed potatoes though, you’ll want to use a potato ricer. A ricer will give you super smooth potatoes without turning them into a gluey, overworked mess.
Serving Suggestions
Personally, I could eat these amazing potatoes any old day of the week or even make a meal out of them (ha, total carb lover here). But they're even better for special occasions, like for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter!
Try them with this special holiday menu I created for Thanksgiving this year:
- Baked Ricotta - A crave-worthy start to the meal that's so easy to prepare!
- Mushroom Gravy - Perfect for serving with the potatoes and everything else, too.
- Mushroom Stuffing - No holiday meal is complete without an awesome dressing recipe and this one is a favorite.
- Cranberry Orange Sauce - This simple sauce is a holiday classic for a reason! My recipe has a special ingredient that really makes it pop!
- Vegetable Pie - This show stopping vegetarian entree will be the talk of your party.
- No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake - You're going to love this fun, easy twist on the classic pumpkin pie!
Tip: Have leftover mashed potatoes after the big meal? Use them to make this yummy Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie.
Related Recipes
Craving more potato recipes? You'll love my Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes, Butternut Squash Mashed Potatoes, and Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, too!
If it's holiday ideas you need, check out these recipes next:
- Onion Gravy
- Classic Bread Stuffing
- Sourdough Stuffing
- Roasted Vegetables
- Roasted Root Vegetables
- Broccoli Rice Casserole
- Roasted Cauliflower Gratin
- Cranberry Relish
Looking for more roasted garlic recipes? Don't miss my Roasted Garlic Hummus, or my guide 30 Ways to Use Roasted Garlic which has tons of delicious tips!
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
For Roasted Garlic:
- 1 large head garlic
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
For Mashed Potatoes:
- 3 pounds red potatoes
- 6 large cloves garlic, peeled
- ½ cup sour cream
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ½ to 1 cup whole milk, warmed
- kosher salt
- pepper
Instructions
Prepare Roasted Garlic:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Remove excess papery skin from garlic, leaving cloves intact. Use a sharp knife to slice top off cloves.
- Drizzle olive oil over exposed cloves, then rub into cloves with your fingers. Sprinkle lightly with salt.
- Wrap garlic in foil, then roast until cloves are tender and browned, about 40 to 50 minutes.
- Remove from oven and set aside. When cool enough to handle, squeeze garlic cloves from skins, then chop.
Prepare Mashed Potatoes:
- Peel potatoes (if desired), then chop.
- Add potatoes to a large pot, along with 6 garlic cloves (raw, not roasted). Cover potatoes with cold, well-salted water.
- Cover pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Remove lid, reduce heat to medium-high, and cook potatoes until tender.
- Drain potatoes, then add sour cream and butter. Mash, adding just enough milk to reach desired consistency.
- Stir in chopped, roasted garlic, then season potatoes generously with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve potatoes hot. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
